Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-10
RAMBLES ABOUT EUROPE.
From England to Egypt, Especially for
the Eagle.

| To the Editor Of the Eagle
DUBLIN, Ireland, May %, 81.
We travelled direct by rail from Cork to
Killarney. Between Mallow, where we
left the main line, and Killarney, the "bogs
of Ireland" were encountered for the first
time. The natives were at work here pre-
pairing their yearly supply of fuel. The
turf, which is cut with spade, adapted to
the purpose, to depth of from two to
three feet, is spread out over the ground
to dry. 1t varies in color from deep
black to a tan color, burns like our ''buffa-
10 chips" and emits in burning similar
odor. The furze bushes that grew along
the sod fences and in unsightly places, were
in full bloom, their bright yellow flowers
almost hiding the evergreens on which they
grew the white and red thorns were
likewise clad in gala costume. The lay OF
the land was beautiful until we approached
Killarney, where the mountains almost
encircle this delightful pleasure resort. We
found here town of about 5000 people.
The hotels, four or five in number, are
good of their kind, depending almost
wholly for support on the patronage OF
tourists. Strolling through the town l
could not help but notice the evidences OF
poverty. Aside from the shopmen, the
people seemed to have nothing to do and
they swarmed in the principal street as
though it had been holiday. Sitting at
breakfast the next morning noticed a
motley throng making their way to the
depot; bareheaded and barefooted women
and children by the score, old men and
young, donkey carts with boxes and bed
ding one horse carts and jaunting cars,
women toting boxes, scurrying past as
though fleeing from aplague. Pretty soon
1 ascertained that about 100 Of them
were emigrating to America, where all
Irishmen hope to 60. So l joined the
motley throng at the depot just before train
time, and witnessed a sight, perhaps
| very common in Ireland but strange indeed
to me- Nearly half of the populace OF
the town had gathered here to say goodbye
to the lucky one hundred and unite their
voices in loud lamentation at their bereave-
ment, for the aged people all regard such a
parting in the same light as separation by
death, and to them it is absolutely so.
| The picture is of too sacred nature, to
make sport of, and yet as mixed in that
Hibernian crowd, heard the parting words,
looked into the sad tear-stained swoolen
faces, saw the men embrace each other and
even bid good bye to the fellows composing
their own party. these and others too
numerous to mention, made it all appear
like huge farce in play. Poor souls,
there was tradgedy enough in it for them.
This district of Killarney has been dis
cribed as the MECCA of every pilgrim in
search of the sublime and picturesque in
nature. 1t is celebrated in song and story,
and its legends are of that grotesque order
of which Hibernia takes the cake. AT
Cork l fell in with the old colonel Of q
Missouri regiment, and his amiable wife,
we have Joined forces and are making the
tour together. After transcribing our
names in the register of the railway hotel,
the old colonel lit out in search of car
driver who had been recommended to him
as graduate in his line of business. His
name was Pat Healy and his namesake in
Wichita need have 40 scruples in claiming
relationship. What Pat don't know about
this country, there is no use in ransacking
the guide books to find out He was not
hard to find and in the least possible
time had US all aboard OF
his iaunting car and gathering
down the smooth turn pike road, hemmed
| in by high stone walls covered with ivy
and over Swallowed by ancient yew and
beech trees. Women, with articles Of lace
and trinkets made from bog oak, sprang
into the road and urged us to buy their
wares. Some asked openly for aims, but
on we sped, stopping at length at the en-
trance to Tore Cascade. Here we dis
mounted and walked quarter of mile
through a beautiful glen to where the
waters from Tore mountain come down
as they do at "Lodore." Retracing our
footsteps we are Off again, this time through
a cate into the domain of an extensive land
owner, paying our shilling head to the
gate keeper for admittance. We are ap-
parantly hemmed in by mountains, whose
tops are hidden from us by mist. Pat says
it is the stream from the Devils Punch
Bowl" As we emerge from the timber
our eyes are greeted by sight they have
longed to see for many year, the lakes of
Killarney. They are three in number, the
nearest one to us being the middle OF
Muckross lake. Skirting the shore fol
some distance we come to Muchross Abbey
founded by the McCarthys in 1440. The
abbey, now in ruins, was built by them or
the foundations of a much older structure
destroyed by fire in 1892. The ruin con
sists of a church and convent, and within
its walls are a number of graves, said to b,
mostly the graves Of the McCarthys wht
were once princes Of this land. Here is al
opportunity for Jerry. if he is at ali ambi
tious, to trace up his genealogy. For {
ruin, the abbey is In good state of preser